MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2013 SPORTS Under par Atletico held at Villarreal MADRID: Atletico Madrid missed the chance to move top of La Liga for a few hours at least as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Villarreal yesterday. Mario’s own goal less than two minutes in gave Atletico the perfect start, but Villarreal went on to dominate the game and were rewarded 12 minutes from time when Juanfran also turned into his own net under pressure from Ikechukwu Uche. Atletico are now level on points with Barcelona hav- ing played a game more, but the Catalans can open up a three point gap at the top of the table with a win against Real Betis later on Sunday. SUNDERLAND: Sunderland’s Ki Sung Yueng (right) vies for the ball with Manchester With left-back Filipe Luis sus- City’s Martin Demichelis (left) at the Stadium of Light yesterday. — AP pended and Diego Godin away on international duty with Uruguay, Atleti boss Diego Simeone was forced into two changes from the City suffer fresh away side that booked their place in the Champions League last-16 on loss at Sunderland Wednesday and Emiliano Insua and Toby Alderweireld were handed SUNDERLAND, United Kingdom: Manuel valuable goal assist, Brown, in his first rare starts. However, Atletico still VILLARREAL, Spain: Atletico Madrid’s Brazilian forward Diego da Silva Costa (left) vies with Villarreal’s Pellegrini saw Manchester City’s troubles Premier League start for almost two years made the best possible start as Brazilian defender Gabriel Paulista at Madrigal stadium yesterday. — AFP on the road continue as they slid to a sur- thanks to an injury-plagued spell since join- Juanfran picked out Koke at the prise 1-0 defeat at struggling Sunderland ing from Manchester United in 2011, added back post and in his attempt to just wide with a rare opening on 64 Betis in yesterday’s late game. Real through Gilberto Garcia just after on Sunday, their fourth reverse in six a calming influence so often lacking at the stop the Spanish international, minutes before Courtois collected Madrid sit third with 31 points after the re-start, Feghouli rescued a Premier League away games this season. A back for Sunderland this season. Mario headed into his own net. Manuel Trigueros’ effort from the Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick point for Djukic’s inconsistent side. first-half winner from former Manchester Nevertheless, City still squandered sev- Villarreal should have been level edge of the area at the second in their 5-1 home rout of Real Sevilla ended a run of 22 con- United defender Phil Bardsley underlined eral good chances, notably before half-time instantly as Cani fired wastefully attempt. But the hosts did finally Sociedad on Saturday. Promoted secutive road games in La Liga the stark contrast in fortunes enjoyed by when Aguero, with nine goals in his previ- wide when completely unmarked get a deserved equaliser 12 min- Villarreal are fourth with 24. Earlier, without a win when they tri- City this term. They boast a 100 percent ous six outings, met an Aleksandar Kolarov inside the area. Courtois was then utes from time when substitute there were whistles at Mestalla umphed 3-1 at Espanyol. The record from their five home games, but cross unmarked at the far post, only to forced to parry Bruno Soriano’s Jeremy Perbet got to the by-line after Miroslav Djukic’s Valencia Andalusians last won an away have now taken just four points from a pos- head wide from inside the six-yard box. In free-kick as the hosts continued to and his low cross was also turned came from behind to draw 2-2 league fixture in September 2012, sible 18 on their travels, with Sunday’s loss the second half, Aguero dispossessed John threaten. However, as the half wore into his own net by Juanfran. against his former club Real beating Deportivo La Coruna 2-0, meaning they missed an opportunity to O’Shea before advancing into the area to on, Atletico began to create Simeone then introduced Adrian Valladolid with a 75th-minute strike and coach Unai Emery was feel- climb into the top three. cut-back for Kolarov, who looked certain to chances on the counter-attack and Lopez for the tired looking Costa from substitute Sofiane Feghouli. ing the heat after five games In-form forward Sergio Aguero drew a level from fewer than 12 yards until from one such move Diego Costa suggesting he would be happy to The hosts got off to a woeful start, without a win in all competitions. first blank in seven games, but the Bardsley underlined his value at both ends picked out David Villa and his effort settle for a point. And that is how it Ever Banega hoofing a penalty over Quick goals from Federico Fazio Argentinian was not alone among those in with a goal-line block as the Black Cats was straight at Sergio Asenjo. finished as Atletico dropped points the bar after only five minutes, and and Vitolo gave Sevilla the advan- blue to experience a day to forget, as shut-out a side that had scored 12 goals in Villarreal continued to press after for just the second time this season. they then conceded a ninth-minute tage and Carlos Bacca made sure Sunderland deservedly earned a victory to its previous two games. the break, but struggled to break Second-placed Atletico moved Javi Guerra header. Colombia strik- of the points with an impressive pull within three points of safety. It was Sunderland benefited from some eye- down the visitors’ well-organised on to 34 points from 13 games, the er Dorlan Pabon’s long-range effort third in the 58th minute, running only their second league win of the season, catching service from both flanks, and from defence. same as unbeaten leaders put Valencia level in the 29th, and from the halfway line to fire but their third in four games in all competi- one such centre from the Swedish midfield- Jonathan Pereira pulled his shot Barcelona, who visit struggling Real after Valladolid notched a second home. — Agencies tions as they continue to show signs of life er Seb Larsson, Steven Fletcher, the Scot under new coach Gus Poyet. City have now preferred to Jozy Altidore as a lone forward, lost by the only goal on their last four visits should have done better with a header. To to Wearside, with Sunderland’s winner yes- their credit, Sunderland refused to sit back Krul luck for Spurs as Newcastle win terday coming in the 21st minute. Wes in an attempt to defend their lead, and Ki Brown’s searching ball from the back met Sung Yueng fired just wide after bursting LONDON: Tim Krul was Newcastle’s action however we feel this deci- the run of Bardsley, and when the full-back forward from midfield to try his luck from star as the Magpies won 1-0 away sion is in the players’ best interest.” brushed-off the challenge of James Milner the edge of the area. Vito Mannone to Tottenham Hotspur at White Brad Friedel started in goal and he was left with time and space to break cemented a fully merited clean sheet on his Hart Lane in the Premier League Lloris watched the game from the the deadlock from a narrow angle with a full Sunderland league debut thanks to a yesterday. On a day when goal- bench. The American veteran was composed finish into the bottom corner fine save low to his left late on from keepers dominated talk before involved in the early action and had past Costel Pantilimon, again preferred by Aguero. Substitute Edin Dzeko headed kick-off and during the match, the to tip away Mathieu Debuchy’s vol- City manager Pellegrini to England’s Joe wide from a corner at the death, and when Dutchman produced a string of ley, then block Yohan Cabaye’s Hart. Kolarov raked the side-netting from dis- brilliant saves as Newcastle fol- effort when he collected the After scoring in the midweek League tance, Sunderland, roared on by a vocifer- lowed up their win over Chelsea rebound. Cup victory over Southampton, it was the ous 40,000 Stadium of Light crowd, had with another victory over a top Remy had already gone close first time in his 10-year career the Scotland deservedly hung on for a crucial win which London club. Loic Remy scored the when he raced through, from international had found the net in back-to- could have repercussions at both ends of only goal of the game as Newcastle Cabaye’s pass, and was tackled by back domestic games. In addition to his the table come May. —AFP went ninth, three points behind Vlad Chiriches as he attempted to Spurs, who would have gone level shoot. But the French striker on points with second-placed grabbed the lone goal of the game ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE STANDINGS Liverpool if they had won this in the 13th minute. Paulinho was match. robbed of the ball in dangerous ter- English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals Tottenham went into the last ritory by Yoan Gouffran, who then against, points): international break on the back of a slid the ball through for Remy to Arsenal 11 8 1 2 22 10 25 Hull City 11 4 2 5 9 14 14 home defeat to West Ham and their breeze past Friedel and pass into an Liverpool 11 7 2 2 21 10 23 Swansea City 11 3 3 5 15 15 12 players will join up with their coun- open goal.